Nervous about getting help

[Epiphany]

Hi

I think I have depression and maybe anxiety, I've just been really stressed out, down, and pessimistic about my future for a while now, and just recently I have been having suicidal thoughts a lot of the time. I've also been self harming for 3 years. I have been wanting to reach out for help for a while but I only really feel ready to now. I am thinking about making an appointment with a counsellor at uni, but I  really struggle to let people know about my problems and let them in so I'm not really sure what to tell them or how to begin... I just feel like there is so much going on in my mind that I can't really pin point what the main issues are or get my thoughts straight.

Any tips on how to ease into the appointment or what to say to begin with? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Dennis38]

Good evening Epiphany,

A lot of us when we first go to an appointment with a counsellor are so out of our own mind we honestly do not know where to start with ourselves. We all tend to have a lot problems and all of them fighting for the front seat on the bus. The best spot to start at is the beginning, simply can you think of when you first started to feel suicidal, personally I would worry about the feelings of suicide first then worry about the root cause a little later down the road.

Starting to talk about your problems is not easy, its going to be one of the hardest things you have had to do in a while. And yes I am talking from personal experience here. Once you start to talk to a counsellor you are going to find that talking becomes easier as you go along and you will also find that you can start to sort your own mind out, one problem at a time. To me it makes more sense to work on small things at first then work towards the main root of your depression. Some times simply getting up out of bed can seem to be a real accomplishment.

To start with I would just talk to the counsellor about maybe a few months back, or even your last week. You do not have to try to sort out old problems at first, work on the ones that are fresh in your mind and you will find that once you solve these issues it will make you stronger to tackle the issues that you have in your past.

This post feels like its full of old sayings, and cheesy ones at that but, the old saying "take it one day at a time" Is truly the best adage to use in the case of depression. So set that appointment and remember that you may need to see more then just one counsellor to find that right person, but once you find that right person you are going to find it very easy to start to open up and to work towards fighting and WINNING against your own demons.

And remember that the people on this forum are here to help you as best as we can

Wish you a great tomorrow!

Dennis

[vip]

Hi Epiphany on my first visit i wrote all my thoughts in a journal and read it all out to the psych i found this was quite easy second visit i didnt need that journal maybe you can try that. Really glad you are getting the help you cant do this on your own all the best and let us know how you go. take care

[Jono]

Hi,

I feel that I am in the same sort of position you are in, I've also been wanting to seek help for a while, but I haven't done so yet. If you're like me and are a bit nervous with physical confrontations, you could maybe email the counsellor at your uni to make an appointment, or even maybe just ask for advice through email. I find with myself that using email makes me feel so much more at ease, and I can communicate what I feel easier with it. It may be able to sort of prepare you to meet with the counsellor physically because he/she will know a bit about yourself/ your position.

[geoff]

dear Epiphany, being in denial is a mistake I made, because it defers any beginning to recovery, but I didn't realise that in depression, I always thought I would get better by myself, how stupid I was, but I couldn't think straight, because I had depression.

I have just started seeing a new psychologist and had 1 appointment, but I felt comfortable when I first saw him, he had an appealing type face, sounds stupid doesn't it, but it's true, and the session went OK.

But when I sat down, I said to him 'well where do I begin', so I told him something and away the hour went just talking, nothing was held back, and he asked questions, so when you do see your psychologist, have a list written down as mentioned by the above, in any order you like, then he or she will 'get the gist'.

Personally when I first saw a psychiatrist I just told him everything in the session, and he seemed to be overwhelmed and perplexed, so what I would do know is not to do what I did, and maybe have a list of say 5 concerns on which to start on, in any order you like.

I only say this because you might not click with this person, but after a couple of sessions you will know whether or not you feel comfortable with them.

Personally I have a 50/50 with a school or uni counsellor, because if they were fully qualified and had plenty of experience then they would be practising in the field, but for your first sessions this maybe good for you, and once you have gained confidence then go to your doctor and get them to refer you to a psychologist.

Good luck. Geoff.

[Epiphany]

Thank you so much everyone for your good advice! Now that I have been to see the counsellor im not sure what i was so worried about it. I actually found it pretty easy to talk and the time went by relatively quickly. I am seeing her again in a week and in between then she referred me to a GP to discuss possible medication. It was all definitely worth the near anxiety attack in the waiting room beforehand...